Prolonged water-only fasting in the management of low-grade follicular lymphoma: a case series

Abstract

Abstract Background Follicular lymphoma typically follows an indolent and relapsing course often requiring several treatment cycles to achieve remission. Some patients opt to use complementary and alternative therapies particularly when observation is a treatment option. Case presentation Here we present a case series of three patients, a 50-year-old, White, Hispanic female, 56-year-old, White, non-Hispanic male, and 49-year-old, White, non-Hispanic male, who elected to undergo one or more prolonged water-only fasting and refeeding interventions to manage low to intermediate grade follicular lymphoma. Fasting was well tolerated in each patient. Each patient also experienced a reduction in the size and avidity of hypermetabolic lymph nodes as independently determined by their respective oncologists. Conclusion The reported cases demonstrate positive outcomes in low-grade follicular lymphoma coinciding with prolonged water-only fasting and exclusively whole-plant-food dietary interventions. These findings highlight the potential of such interventions and warrant further exploration through preliminary observational research.

Keywords

• Follicular lymphoma
• Prolonged water-only fasting
• Whole-plant-food diet
• Alternative therapy
• Nutritional therapy
• Case report